Fuente del artículo: State House News Service
Artículo por: Michael P. Norton
Los compradores pagan un precio mediano récord en noviembre de $460,000
15 DE DIC. 2020…..Las bajas tasas de interés y el cambio al trabajo desde casa están contribuyendo a un continuo “frenesí” de compra de viviendas en Massachusetts, y tanto la actividad de ventas como los precios batieron nuevos récords en noviembre.
Las ventas subieron casi un 25 por ciento el mes pasado y el precio medio de venta de una vivienda unifamiliar aumentó un 17,6 por ciento en comparación con noviembre del año pasado, hasta alcanzar los $460,000, según informó The Warren Group el martes por la mañana.
Tras una pausa cuando golpeó la crisis del COVID-19 en marzo, el mercado se recuperó con fuerza en verano y el ritmo de ventas se ha mantenido hasta el otoño, ya que compradores, vendedores y la industria se han adaptado a las condiciones de la pandemia.
Las ventas en noviembre superaron a las de junio, revirtiendo el patrón tradicional en el que la compra de viviendas repunta en primavera y se desacelera en el cuarto trimestre, dijo Tim Warren, CEO de The Warren Group.
“Los compradores están aprovechando las tasas de interés históricamente bajas y la posibilidad de trabajar desde casa para fijarse en comunidades cada vez más alejadas de sus oficinas, ahora que la comunidad es un factor menos importante para muchos compradores potenciales”, dijo Warren.
Las ventas en abril cayeron casi un 14 por ciento. Se desplomaron un 30 por ciento en mayo y bajaron un 24 por ciento en junio, antes de comenzar a recuperarse en junio y julio, para luego dispararse un 27 por ciento en septiembre.
Mientras el mes pasado se registraron unas ventas récord de 5.773, las ventas disminuyeron un 11 por ciento en el condado de Suffolk, pero fueron “especialmente fuertes” en las islas de Nantucket y Martha's Vineyard, dijo Warren.
El mes pasado se registraron 41 ventas de viviendas en Nantucket, en comparación con las 12 de noviembre de 2019, y el precio mediano de venta de las viviendas en la isla en noviembre fue de poco menos de $2 millones, según los datos de Warren Group.
Las ventas de viviendas el mes pasado en el condado de Barnstable aumentaron más del 52 por ciento en comparación con noviembre de 2019, y las ventas en el oeste del condado de Berkshire el mes pasado aumentaron un 43.5 por ciento interanual.
Las ventas de viviendas unifamiliares han aumentado un 1,5 por ciento durante los primeros once meses de 2019. El precio mediano de venta de las viviendas unifamiliares este año es de $445,000, lo que representa un aumento del 11,3 por ciento en comparación con el año pasado.
El mercado de departamentos no ha estado tan sólido, pero las ventas en noviembre aumentaron más del 11 por ciento en comparación con noviembre de 2019, y el precio mediano de venta de los departamentos el mes pasado subió un 8.5 por ciento hasta alcanzar los $410,000, un récord para ese mes.
En lo que va del año, las ventas de departamentos han bajado un 3,5 por ciento en comparación con los primeros 11 meses de 2019, con un precio mediano de $415,000, lo que representa un aumento del 9,2 por ciento. Los precios medianos de los departamentos bajaron el mes pasado en los condados de Suffolk y Middlesex.
Gardner, MA – December 14, 2020 – Heywood Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Heywood Hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.
Win Brown, President and CEO of Heywood Healthcare said, “We are incredibly proud to receive this national accolade. We strive to provide an exceptional care experience for every patient and their family everyday, without exception. We are also tremendously proud of the care provided at Heywood Hospital’s LaChance Maternity Center, recognized as a Newsweek’s Best 2020 Maternity Care Hospital.
“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Heywood Hospital. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”
Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
Heywood Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ grade today when Leapfrog updated grades for Fall 2020. To see Heywood Hospital’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter y Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
About Heywood Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 134-bed acute care community-owned non-profit hospital in Gardner, MA, providing a broad range of high quality medical, orthopedic, bariatric, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital’s featured Centers include the Center for Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery. the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center, and the Heywood Heart and Vascular Center.
About Heywood Healthcare
Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system serving north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a 134-bed acute care community-owned non-profit hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group, with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region; and the Quabbin Retreat, our premier destination for treatment of mental health and substance misuse.
The organization includes six satellite facilities in MA: Heywood Rehabilitation Center & Heywood Urgent Care in Gardner, Winchendon Health Center & Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, Tully Family Medicine and Walk-In Care in Athol; and West River Health Center in Orange. The organization also includes the Heywood Healthcare Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.heywood.org.
Gracias a internet, el comportamiento del consumidor ha cambiado drásticamente en la última década, especialmente en lo que respecta a la búsqueda de negocios locales.
Un aspecto clave de este crecimiento en las búsquedas en línea de negocios locales es la amplia propiedad de dispositivos móviles ‘inteligentes’ como teléfonos inteligentes y tabletas que permiten a los usuarios conectarse a Internet en cualquier lugar, en cualquier momento. Pew Research Center informa que el 77 por ciento de los estadounidenses posee un teléfono inteligente, en comparación con el 35 por ciento en 2011.
Los resultados de búsqueda basados en la ubicación impulsan el tráfico local
Porque los dispositivos móviles inteligentes tienen rastreadores GPS incorporados, Google y otros motores de búsqueda han adaptado sus algoritmos para asegurar que los consumidores que buscan un negocio en su teléfono o tableta sean dirigidos automáticamente a empresas verificadas que se encuentran cerca.
Los consumidores tienden a recurrir a las búsquedas locales cuando necesitan un producto o servicio de inmediato: categorías como restaurantes, cafeterías y bares se encuentran entre las búsquedas locales más populares, mientras que agentes inmobiliarios, contratistas y gimnasios también son comunes.
Otro los negocios que se benefician del tráfico de búsqueda local incluyen granjas, paseadores de perros y camiones de comida, así como servicios de guardería, minoristas de ropa, abogados, dentistas y médicos. En pocas palabras, el mismo tipo de negocios que solían ver un tráfico significativo de anuncios en las Páginas Amarillas y periódicos locales hace 25 años, ahora se benefician de las búsquedas locales en internet.
Si su negocio atiende a consumidores y clientes en su vecindario, enfocar sus esfuerzos de marketing en la búsqueda en línea local podría proporcionarle un gran retorno de la inversión para su empresa.
El Dr. Sam Alkhoury, DMD, se autoproclama el “disruptor del mercado” en su campo y especialidad, la ortodoncia.
El Dr. Alkhoury inició su negocio en 2005 y desde entonces no ha dejado de avanzar. En 2007, fue galardonado como ortodoncista #1 en Worcester durante dos años consecutivos. Desarrolló e implementó un enfoque único en ortodoncia y diseñó un modelo de negocio eficiente y replicable que ha llevado a la adquisición o apertura exitosa de 15 sucursales de Simply Orthodontics, ubicadas principalmente en el área central de Massachusetts, pero con expansión hacia Nueva Inglaterra.
“Noté que otros ortodoncistas eran más ‘tradicionales’, y nadie estaba usando métodos innovadores para ayudar a los pacientes en tratamientos sin extracciones”, dijo Alkhoury.
“—¡A los pacientes les encanta cuando les dices que no hay que extraerles ningún diente! —rio.
Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, que forma parte de Simply Dental Management, abrió en Fitchburg en julio de 2018. Son un centro integral perfecto para las necesidades de su familia y pediatricas, desde la primera visita al dentista hasta el momento de usar ortodoncia.
Brindan servicio a todos los miembros de la comunidad, incluyendo Medicaid, para que puedan ofrecer tratamiento y atención de ortodoncia a todos los que lo necesiten, incluyendo un Descuento en Ortodoncia.
“Es importante señalar que el descuento en ortodoncia está diseñado para ayudar a aquellas familias a las que se les ha negado el beneficio a través de MassHealth”, dijo el Dr. Alkhoury. “El 25 de marzo de este año, Massachusetts modificó sus criterios de elegibilidad para menores de 18 años. Desde entonces, hemos observado una reducción en la aceptación de casos por parte del estado, lo que dificulta mucho que las familias puedan recibir el tratamiento que necesitan”.”
Debido a esta reducción, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry de Fitchburg ofrece un descuento de $550 en los aparatos ortodónticos tradicionales o en Invisalign, y un descuento de $59 en exámenes, limpiezas y radiografías de odontología pediátrica, con algunas restricciones que podrían aplicarse.
“Como estamos en el campo de la medicina, tenemos pautas muy estrictas”, afirmó el Dr. Alkhoury. “Hemos implementado precauciones como preguntas de preselección antes de que vengan y cuando llegan, distanciamiento social, mantener la cantidad de pacientes en la oficina lo más baja posible, llamar desde los automóviles antes de venir. Un desafío que enfrentamos fue adquirir equipo de protección personal (EPP) para todos los miembros del equipo”.”
El sitio web de la Asociación Dental Estadounidense (ADA) afirma que su guía exige el más alto nivel de equipo de protección personal disponible: mascarillas, gafas y protectores faciales.
Con los negocios locales enfrentando la actual pandemia, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry ve un futuro prometedor y está considerando adquirir negocios en el área de Fitchburg para sumarlos a su ubicación existente. Buscan hacer crecer orgánicamente sus prácticas actuales con pacientes y continuar abriendo nuevas sedes donde sus servicios sean necesarios en Nueva Inglaterra.
Según el Dr. Alkhoury, el precio del tratamiento de ortodoncia ha ido a la baja, independientemente del COVID-19, pero insta a los pacientes a invertir en él mientras puedan hacerlo, ya que el costo del tratamiento podría aumentar en un futuro cercano.
“¡Si lo estás pensando, ven y hazlo antes de que sea demasiado tarde!“, dijo.
Simply Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry es miembro de la Cámara de Comercio del Centro Norte de Massachusetts y actualmente está dando la bienvenida a pacientes nuevos y antiguos a su consultorio que desean mejorar su autoestima a través de sus hermosas sonrisas. El consultorio está ubicado en 50 Whalon Street en Fitchburg, y se puede contactar por teléfono al 978-424-4255 o en línea en https://www.simplyorthopedo.com/
Las medidas descritas a continuación entrarán en vigor a las 12:01 a. m. del domingo 13 de diciembre. La Mancomunidad en su totalidad pasará a la Fase 3, Paso 1 del Plan de Reapertura. Además, las siguientes actualizaciones de los límites de capacidad entrarán en vigor:
Reuniones al aire libre en recintos y espacios públicos para hasta 50 personas
Cines al aire libre y recintos para espectáculos: 25% y un máximo de 50 personas
Cerrar cines y salas de espectáculos en interiores y algunos negocios de recreación en interiores más pequeños como pistas de patinaje y parques de trampolines
Reducir la capacidad de 50% a 40% para varios sectores industriales que se indican a continuación:
Arcades / Negocios recreativos interiores y exteriores
Escuelas de conducción y vuelo
Gimnasios/Clubes de salud
Bibliotecas
Museos
Minorista
Oficinas
Lugares de culto
Alojamiento (áreas comunes)
Golf
Cines (no más de 50 personas por sala)
Actualizaciones de protocolos para restaurantes y centros de eventos
Se realizarán las siguientes actualizaciones en los protocolos de restaurantes y locales de eventos con respecto a cubrebocas, asientos y presentaciones:
Usar mascarilla en todo momento, excepto al comer y beber.
Siéntese no más de seis por mesa y anime a los clientes a comer solo con miembros de su mismo hogar.
Pon un límite de tiempo de 90 minutos en las mesas
Prohibir todas las actuaciones musicales en restaurantes
Asientos cerrados en patio de comidas
Protocolos actualizados para centros de trabajo y gimnasios
Las siguientes actualizaciones se realizarán en los protocolos de Espacios de Oficina y Centros de Ejercicio con respecto al uso de cubrebocas:
Requerir el uso de mascarilla en oficinas cuando no se esté en el propio espacio de trabajo y solo.
Exigir el uso de mascarillas en todo momento en los gimnasios
Fomenta el teletrabajo
Todas las actualizaciones de la guía sectorial se encuentran en www.mass.gov/reapertura a finales de esta semana.
Fuente del artículo: State House News Service
Artículo por: Matt Murphy
El primero puede ser el más difícil
4 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2020…. El atasco del "pato cojo" se rompió esta semana, y de él surgió la posibilidad de que el compromiso, en estos ventosos días de diciembre, pudiera ser al menos una fracción tan contagioso como el COVID-19.
Con los casos diarios del mortífero coronavirus alcanzando nuevos máximos y las camas de hospital llenándose a un ritmo preocupante, la Legislatura comenzó a mostrar por qué fue exactamente que votaron en julio para ignorar décadas de precedente y extender su sesión no por uno o dos, sino por más de cinco meses.
La primera ficha de dominó en caer fue quizás la más difícil de volcar, a pesar de todo el viento a su favor en julio. Mientras ráfagas reales soplaban arriba y abajo de la costa el lunes, los demócratas de la Cámara de Representantes y del Senado llegaron a un acuerdo para reformar cómo la policía en Massachusetts debe comportarse en el trabajo y cómo será fiscalizada a partir de ahora.
El proyecto de ley de compromiso, impulsado por la muerte de George Floyd y las consiguientes protestas por la violencia policial contra personas negras, crearía una nueva Comisión de Estándares y Capacitación para Oficiales de Paz para certificar a todas las fuerzas del orden en Massachusetts y para descertificar a los policías que violen su deber de servir y proteger.
El proyecto de ley limitaría el uso de estrangulamientos y órdenes de registro sin previo aviso, y despojaría a los oficiales de policía de su protección de inmunidad calificada contra demandas civiles si su certificación es revocada por mala conducta.
Pero este proyecto de ley no fue pan comido para los legisladores, y el gobernador Charlie Baker sigue siendo un comodín poderoso. Ni un solo republicano respaldó el proyecto de ley de reforma policial, y el presidente Robert DeLeo no pudo conseguir una mayoría a prueba de veto, con una votación de 92-67 en la Cámara que fue muy reñida para los estándares de Beacon Hill.
Los márgenes colocan a Baker en la inusual posición de tener en realidad una considerable influencia mientras sopesa cómo abordar el problema en los próximos días y semanas. Por un lado, Baker quiere una nueva Comisión POST con la autoridad para certificar y descertificar a la policía, y los líderes legislativos lo saben.
But because of the complexity of the legislation and its attempts to take on issues like qualified immunity, Democratic leaders may be forced to negotiate amendments with the governor unless they’re willing to risk a veto that would push off action to next year.
The annual state budget is a different breed of bill, and was the second box to get checked this week.
Unlike the more than four months it took to negotiate a compromise policing bill, it took almost a month to the day for the House and Senate to move the fiscal 2021 from a House Ways and Means draft, released two days after the election, to a final budget on its way to the governor’s desk.
Of course, that budget is still five months late by non-pandemic standards. But who’s counting anymore, except maybe the bond rating agencies.
The final budget now in Baker’s hands for review proposes to spend more than $46.2 billion in a year during which lawmakers have been girding for the financial worst, but not yet seeing it. Revenues continue to outperform 2019 in spite of the pandemic, and rather than make real tough choices about where to spend, the conference committee simply upped its draw on reserves by $200 million to $1.7 billion, using about 48 percent of the “rainy day” account.
How that will be received by Baker, who recommended using considerably less in reserves, remains to be seen, as does his reaction to a controversial expansion of abortion access that would make abortions after 24 weeks legal in cases of diagnosed fatal fetal anomalies.
Other policy changes included in the budget include an acceleration of sales tax collections opposed by retailers and other small businesses and the authorized use of ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders.
But along with developments on the legislative front, there was also “light at the end of the tunnel” in the fight against COVID-19 as Gov. Baker said he expects the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to begin arriving in Massachusetts by mid-December.
The state expects 300,000 doses to arrive by the end of the year, with health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities and seniors or those with underlying health conditions expected to be among the first to get access.
The full plan for vaccine distribution is expected to be detailed by the administration next week after it was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control this week for review, but Baker said it could be April before the general public can start rolling up their sleeves for the shot.
“It would probably be Q2 before just Joe Q or Jane Q Citizen would have access to a vaccine,” Baker said.
But the vaccine can’t arrive fast enough. The second surge is worsening, and there are signs that the fears harbored by public health officials over Thanksgiving travel and gatherings may be coming to life.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had thought the infection rate in his city might be trending in the right direction until early this week when the data began to point to a surge within the surge.
“It could be the first signs of what the Thanksgiving holiday brought,” Walsh said Tuesday, detailing how Boston had clocked 407 new cases on the day, or more than twice the daily average.
Statewide records would also continue to fall throughout the week, with Thursday’s 6,477 new reported cases the most of any time during the pandemic, and statewide hospital capacity dipping below 25 percent. Baker went to Worcester to mark the readiness of the first field hospital to open since the spring at the DCU Center, and said another one is being prepped for Lowell. The state is also thinking about how to fortify outdoor testing sites against a New England winter.
But despite the gathering storm, Baker dismissed as “rumor mongering” another statewide lockdown and he said at this point he has no plans for further restrictions or forced business closures.
In fact, the Cannabis Control Commission greenlighted a completely new business this week – recreational marijuana home delivery. The CCC risked a lawsuit by saying yes to two new types of licenses for either dispensaries to deliver their product, or for independent business owners to buy direct from wholesalers and venture out on their own.
The one service that likely won’t be able to escape shutdowns is public transit.
The MassINC Polling Institute released the findings of a new poll Thursday showing, unsurprisingly, that people don’t like the idea of drastic service reductions to balance the transit agency’s books.
Rep. Carlos Gonzalez reviewed the official copy of the compromise policing reform bill, joined by fellow conferees Sen. Will Brownsberger and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, before filing the legislation in the Senate clerk’s office Monday afternoon. [Sam Doran/SHNS]
The survey also found people don’t believe the T will ever restore the cuts if and when its finances improve. Well, that got under the skin of the Baker administration, which criticized the pollster for not asking people how they would propose to pay for transit that’s not being used, and insisted the cuts were temporary.
But the 66 percent of people saying the state should just tap its budget for more money weren’t alone in thinking the MBTA should reconsider its plan. The MBTA Advisory Board said the agency was being unnecessarily cautious in its budget projections for next year, and could eliminate the need for widespread service cuts with just a little positive thinking.
The advisory board’s own budget analysis suggested the financial hole facing the T could be 20 percent smaller than the worst-case scenario being planned for, negating the need to end weekend commuter rail service or cut 25 bus routes and all ferry services.
“The Advisory Board’s view is that risk of permanent loss of ridership, increased congestion, and other negative effects of service cuts to people and communities is too high a price to pay right now, just as a vaccine is on the horizon,” the board wrote.
MBTA officials, however, are forging ahead with their plan and a vote on Dec. 14, and alternatives don’t seem to be in their line of vision.
“The vast majority of MBTA service will continue, the proposed service changes are not permanent, and the MBTA will periodically realign service as feasible to match current and future ridership patterns when durable revenue is available for pay for such service,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a statement.
Leominster, MA – Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is proud to support the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and the 2021 Workplace Campaign.
“We would like to thank our wonderful employees and Board of Directors for their support, generosity and kindness during this difficult year. We know that with this $15,000 donation, the United Way of North Central Massachusetts will be able to help so many individuals and families in our communities,” stated Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO, Leominster Credit Union.
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has continued to work tirelessly to improve the lives in the communities in which we work, live, and serve by providing services focused on health, education, and financial wellness.
“On behalf of those we serve, I’d like to thank the Leominster Credit Union team for their continued support and partnership. As the need for food, heat, and housing support increases due to the recent pandemic, we need all hands-on deck to support those most impacted. The financial support from LCU will go a long way in our work to support our friends and neighbors in need and is just one of many ways LCU continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to our community,” said Kory Eng, President & CEO, United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
For more information about the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and how to donate, please visit https://uwncm.org/.
Si las analíticas de tu sitio web se han estancado por un tiempo, quizás te estés preguntando qué puedes hacer para aumentar tu tráfico. ¿Es hora de darle un nuevo aspecto a tu sitio web? Creemos en el apoyo a los negocios locales, por lo que hemos reflexionado sobre el asunto. Echa un vistazo a 3 consejos para determinar si es el momento de actualizar la imagen de tu sitio.
Actualizar cuando los clientes muestren signos de desinterés
Observa tu tasa de rebote — Esa es la métrica que mide cuántas personas visitan tu sitio pero se van sin realizar ninguna compra. Quizás tu sitio se ve anticuado o es difícil de navegar, y eso está haciendo que los clientes potenciales se marchen. Presta especial atención a las quejas de los clientes, ya sea por correo electrónico, teléfono o en tus plataformas de redes sociales, de que tu sitio es menos que funcional o que se ve desactualizado.
Actualízate cuando sientas el calor de tu competencia
Actualizar tu sitio web es una señal para tus clientes de que te mantienes a la vanguardia en tu campo. Si estás en una competencia acalorada por clientes, la apariencia de tu sitio web puede enviar un mensaje de que eres la empresa con la que quieren tratar. Imagina visitar un sitio con contenido desactualizado, sin noticias nuevas y una apariencia anticuada. ¿No harías clic y te irías a otro lado? No le des a tus clientes la oportunidad de hacer eso.
Actualizar a Go Mobile
Cada vez más, los clientes acceden a internet a través de sus dispositivos móviles y pueden frustrarse si su sitio web es difícil de navegar porque no ha sido optimizado para móviles. Si es así, necesita agregar un diseño adaptable a su sitio o ajustar su diseño adaptable actual para que se combine con la tecnología actual. Dependiendo de cómo esté codificado su sitio, puede necesitar un rediseño completo, en lugar de simplemente darle una apariencia renovada al material existente.
Te animamos a mantener tu sitio web activo y actualizado para que los clientes de toda nuestra comunidad puedan dirigir sus negocios hacia ti.
FITCHBURG, Ma., November 30 – Workers Credit Union has received the 2020 Spirit of North Central Award for Corporate Leadership of the United Way annual campaign. During the United Way’s Annual Meeting heldearlier this fall, Workers was honored along with three other local businesses.
The award recognizes corporate partners that embody an overall spirit of giving through contributions of time, leadership and resources in support of United Way of North Central Massachusetts’ work. The recipients demonstrated excellence during a particularly challenging time through robust volunteerism and participation in the United Way workplace campaign. Each year, Workers Credit Union employees participate in the United Way in a variety of ways: payroll contribution, Day of Caring volunteerism, and employee-led fundraisers throughout the year.
“Receiving this award from the United Way is a testament to our employees’ dedication to the community and the overall culture here at Workers Credit Union. Each year, we are able to collectively donate thousands of dollars to support the important work of the United Way and help build a stronger North Central Massachusetts. I am proud to work with such caring people,” said Doug Petersen, president and CEO of Workers Credit Union.
“It’s more important than ever to support our local organizations to ensure they can continue to provide relief to the community,” said Tim Smith, Chief Financial Officer of Workers Credit Union and Vice Chairman of the Board at the United Way North Central Massachusetts. “We hope other businesses will join us in sponsoring the United Way for the 2020-2021 campaign year.”
Donations toward the United Way of North Central Massachusetts can be made at www.uwncm.org.
Workers Credit Union, a $2 billion federally-chartered credit union headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, is a member-owned financial institution with full banking services to meet a lifetime of financial needs, including the Workers Way™ and the GiveBack program. With branches in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, Westford and Worcester as well as online, mobile, telephone, and video-teller banking, Workers proudly serves more than 106,000 members.
Three new apple trees were planted this Fall at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center on Route 2 in Lancaster! Special thanks to MassDOT for providing the new trees to replace ones damaged earlier this year.
The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center, considered by many the gateway to North Central Massachusetts, opened in 1997 as a way to welcome people traveling through the region and give them a place to stop, stretch their legs, and learn more about the twenty-seven communities of North Central Massachusetts. The center has an impressive collection of unique items that showcase the region, including 91 apple trees on its premises to highlight the region’s strong agricultural heritage and connection to apples. The center has been highlighted in the media, including WCVB’s Chronicle and the BBC.
The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center is open every day from 9am-5pm and also features a popular gift shop that carries many local products including jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, fudge, chocolates, cheese, sparkling cider, donuts and that local icon of American kitsch – the pink plastic flamingo! Visitors to the center can also find a wide selection of books highlighting the history of the region, plus good-quality logo merchandise and souvenir items.
This year has placed unimaginable challenges on the North Central Massachusetts small business community. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented wave of disruption to our local economy which many are predicting will permanently alter how we make things, buy things and even where we work. The Chamber has always been a strong advocate for buying local and other initiatives that help to strengthen our local communities and contribute to the economic sustainability of the region. Our efforts to support local businesses take on a new significance this year, and we know that shopping local is going to be more important than ever before this holiday season. The small businesses that help define our local communities continue to face hardships as the pandemic goes on, and it threatens to exacerbate the trend towards online shopping and consolidation among many of these industries. However, there could also be opportunities for our local businesses and the regional economy as supply chain disruptions exposed by the pandemic may encourage consumers and businesses to look to local suppliers and local businesses to help them fulfill their needs.
Since the pandemic began, the Chamber has been focused on providing guidance, resources and a support system to help businesses get through the crisis. Recognizing the importance, the Chamber has developed several marketing campaigns to support small businesses and encourage consumers to shop, eat and visit locally. We have developed new locally focused content, new messaging and we are utilizing digital and social media channels to promote, connect and engage with consumers.The Chamber has also been utilizing its “Gift Local” gift card initiative to encourage shopping local. With nearly 50 businesses currently participating, consumers are given a choice when deciding on where and how they want to spend their money.
“Our restaurants, hotels and local retailers are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. These businesses are finding innovative ways to adapt, transform and survive,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We want to encourage people to support local businesses whenever they can. These business owners are working hard to keep their doors open, create jobs, and fill needs in our community and deserve our support”
The state has also stepped up with a new awareness campaign entitled “My Local MA” to encourage consumers to support local businesses. The Chamber has embraced the effort and is supporting the campaign.
“The My Local MA campaign reminds Massachusetts residents that where they shop, dine and travel matters,” said Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. “Supporting My Local MA strengthens community pride and helps keep our economy running. Spending locally keeps people employed and keeps Main Streets and small businesses thriving in our 351 cities and towns. We want people to stay safe and put their money where their heart is — right here in Massachusetts.”
Why is this important? A recent survey conducted by the Chamber shows that 64% of the small businesses reported losses when compared to 2019, with nearly 27% reporting losses of 50% or more. Nearly 60% also reported that they expect it will be more than six months before their operations return to normal. Twenty-five percent of respondents also estimated they could stay operational on current cash flow and reserves for just six months or less.The survey also showed that marketing to reach their customers was the most requested resource when asked what resources, beyond financial assistance, would be most helpful.
It’s no secret that local small businesses have a tremendous impact on our local economy. When you buy goods and services from local businesses and merchants, the money you spend stays in our communities.National research shows that for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $48 stays in our cities and towns.That’s compared to only $14 of $100 that is spent at a chain and just $1 when spent at large e-commerce retailers.Those dollars support the essential services that we all rely on, including police, fire, schools, streets and more.
Local and independent small businesses are also more likely to give back to the community, create more jobs and opportunities, and support other area small businesses. They are often the first to step up when teams need sponsors and fundraisers need venues or goods.Small businesses also work hard to keep your trust each and every day, providing unparalleled products and services.All of this helps to strengthen our communities and contributes to our quality of life.
With the holiday season before us, there is no doubt that consumers are all thinking about shopping and the gifts they want to buy for the people in their lives. With busy schedules and the pandemic, it’s easy to consider turning to the internet to get shopping done. But that type of shopping has consequences on the local community. This winter is expected to be a difficult one for many small businesses, the Chamber will be encouraging everyone to consider local businesses when making their buying decision. Not only does this support local businesses, but it has profound rewards for the community.
How to Grow When It’s Slow: Increase Productivity Right Now
“Imagine –” suggests business expert Cameron Herold, “If you train your employees on interviewing, train them on effective meetings, train them on an email management, train them on time management, or if you could really work on skill development right now – you can come out of this stronger.”
Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, best-selling author, and speaker. We caught up with him via a recent podcast interview he did for Real Estate Rockstars Radio. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Periods of slow growth come with great challenges both for businesses and consumers. However, you can take advantage of such times to improve efficiency and increase productivity. Cameron has some great advice for business owners in his interview, and we put together some recommendations inspired by Cameron.
Clean up your business systems – and your work space
Most businesses will focus only on sales and marketing to survive hard times. You can also use this time to work on your standard operating procedure to ensure it meets your current and future needs. Slow growth periods are ideal times to purge and clean your warehouse, offices, desks, filing systems, and other important areas of the business. Cleaning the workplace will go a long way in creating a better work environment and improving efficiency.
Training and skills development
Considering the busy schedules that characterize modern workplaces, employers have little or no time to train their employees. When it is slow, you can use this time for training and skills development. Train employees in critical areas like interviewing, effective meetings, time management, and email management. Skills development will also help to address weaknesses and strengthen skills, allowing you to bring employees to a level where they can work without constant help and supervision. In a nutshell, training and skills development will contribute to improved employee performance.
Take advantage of technology
Periods of slow growth can allow businesses to make the most of existing and new technology. As more employees work and communicate remotely, they will save significant commuting time and be less distracted when handling projects. Businesses can maximize technology to increase productivity by setting up efficient communication channels and empowering all employees to work remotely. Teleconferencing and working from home are quickly becoming the new normal, a factor that could affect the organizational structure of many companies.
Explore alternative work sites
Changes such as teleconferencing and working remotely will have a significant impact on office leasing. There will be cases where staff members are unable to make it to the corporate office, and working from home is not an option. This situation may force businesses to identify alternative working sites such as sterilized co-working spaces. Choosing a great facility will allow you to carry on with your activities despite the disruption caused by issues such as infectious epidemics. Employees can remain productive in emergency situations.
Proactive employee support
When your employees work remotely, your physical office will be set-up into numerous virtual offices. Maintaining proper communication between managers and employees will require that you give your staff the necessary support. Through observations and conversations, you will be able to identify and understand any signs of agony. These include low morale, low work productivity, and anxiety relating to the slow-growth period. Addressing employee concerns will help in increasing productivity to ensure your business survives the tough times.
For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for the next article in the 6-part series How to Grow When It’s Slow on the topic of building culture in a remote working environment.
